The roar of engines filled the air at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as practice officially kicked off for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. Six hours of track time around the legendary 2.5-mile oval gave fans their first glimpse of who might be a contender come race day.

Leading the charge was none other than Indiana's own Conor Daly, who posted a blistering lap of 225.838 mph to land among the top three on the speed charts. The Noblesville native is no stranger to the Speedway, returning for his 13th Indy 500 start behind the wheel of the No. 23 Chevrolet for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. This marks the team's only IndyCar entry of the season, making Daly's strong start all the more impressive.

"Just a good Day 1," Daly said with a grin. "I'm very happy with the mechanical balance in the car right now."

Daly's performance is especially noteworthy given that 2025 saw him as a full-time driver for Juncos Hollinger Racing, where he finished 18th in the championship standings. Now back with Dreyer & Reinbold, he's clearly found a rhythm early on.

While Daly grabbed headlines close to home, it was Alex Palou who stole the show later in the day. The reigning champion rebounded from a quiet start to lead the overall speed charts, reminding everyone why he's a favorite heading into the 500.

The opening day also featured plenty of familiar faces getting up to speed. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing drivers Graham Rahal and Louis Foster were seen sharing a quick hug before hitting the track, while Juncos Hollinger's Rinus Veekay wasted no time jumping into his car for early laps.

With six hours of practice in the books, teams now have valuable data to fine-tune their setups. If Daly's opening day is any indication, the hometown hero could be a factor in what promises to be another unforgettable Indy 500.